Giants Looking Into Veteran RBs

Rumored to be interested in a mid-round running back last year, the Giants waited until Round 5 (Eric Gray) to make that move. As a result of their plan last year, a talent gulf existed between Saquon Barkley and the rest of the Giants’ backfield.

To be fair, Barkley is talented enough that would be the case for several teams. But the Giants did not roster a notable backup in 2023. With Barkley on the franchise tag, that strategy was somewhat curious — especially given the six-year starter’s injury history. Barkley is now an Eagle, and the Joe Schoen-Brian Daboll duo reunited with Devin Singletary on a midlevel deal. The team may not be eyeing only the draft to supplement Singletary.

[RELATED: Giants Sign RB Dante Miller]

The Giants are in the market for a veteran backup to team with Singletary, The Athletic’s Dan Duggan notes (subscription required). The Giants balked at re-tagging Barkley, though they were among the four teams that made an offer. The Schoen-led front office viewed Barkley as too expensive. Singletary is now in place as New York’s starter, having signed a three-year, $16.5MM deal with $9.5MM guaranteed at signing. It would surprise if Big Blue was willing to spend much to add a veteran complement, but given Singletary’s history, the team’s primary backup may not be on the roster yet.

The 5-foot-7 back has topped 190 carries in a season once — last year, when the Texans gave him 216 handoffs — but Duggan does add the recent free agency addition should be expected to operate in a workhorse capacity. This would be an interesting strategy. While Daboll did coach Singletary for three seasons in Buffalo, Zack Moss was in the picture for two of those campaigns. Singletary has logged 888 career carries. That number is considerably lower than Barkley’s (1,201), and while the former has proven durable (two missed games in the 2020s), he is not exactly built for bellcow-like workloads.

A few veterans of note remain available. Ezekiel Elliott has once again been connected to the Cowboys, but the two-time rushing champion is unattached. J.K. Dobbins has visited the Chargers and Chiefs; the latter ended up re-signing Clyde Edwards-Helaire on the day of the visit. Cam Akers is unsigned; he joins Dobbins in coming off a severe injury. Kareem Hunt, Rashaad Penny and Boston Scott — he of some success against the Giants — join multiyear Barkley backup Matt Breida as available backs. Breida, 29, averaged just 2.7 yards per carry in 2023; though, the ex-49er fared better under Daboll in 2021 and ’22.

A mid-round RB addition certainly makes sense, though this year’s class is not regarded as highly as 2023’s. Gray and 2021 sixth-rounder Gary Brightwell represent the Giants’ current top backup options. That probably will not be the case when training camp begins.